Darnell
Boy name · #2425 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Darnell? In official American birth records, Darnell has been tracked continuously since 1912, giving it 113 years of documented American history.
Darnell is currently the #2425 boy name in the United States — 56 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1223, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 32,143 boys born in 2025 was named Darnell.
Babies named Darnell per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 113-year story
Darnell first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1984, when 741 boys were named Darnell — good for #281 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Darnell against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Darnell in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Darnell is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Darnell will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Darnell is most common
State-level data for Darnell is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Darnell
Statistically, parents drawn to Darnell tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Donnell, Darell, Terrell, Marcell, and Kendell.
DonnellDarellTerrellMarcellKendellTyrellCordellMitchell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Darnell | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 56 | #2421 |
| 2024 | 63 | #2261 |
| 2023 | 85 | #1868 |
| 2022 | 95 | #1750 |
| 2021 | 102 | #1635 |
| 2020 | 99 | #1621 |
| 2019 | 128 | #1386 |
| 2018 | 129 | #1364 |
| 2017 | 150 | #1219 |
| 2016 | 151 | #1234 |
| 2015 | 150 | #1223 |
| 2014 | 197 | #1028 |
| 2013 | 191 | #1020 |
| 2012 | 203 | #983 |
| 2011 | 238 | #877 |
| 2010 | 235 | #886 |
| 2009 | 284 | #791 |
| 2008 | 313 | #732 |
| 2007 | 325 | #712 |
| 2006 | 305 | #712 |
| 2005 | 289 | #707 |
| 2004 | 271 | #709 |
| 2003 | 291 | #672 |
| 2002 | 262 | #693 |
| 2001 | 264 | #683 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Darnell?
In official American birth records, the name Darnell first appeared in 1912 (over 113 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 113 years.
Is Darnell a popular boy name?
Darnell ranked #2425 among boys in 2025 with 56 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1223.
When was the name Darnell most popular?
Darnell peaked in 1984, when 741 American boys received the name (ranked #281 that year). Since 1984 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Darnell?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 32,143 newborn American boys was named Darnell. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.